Has anyone else here done this, or seriously looked into it? I do see one poster, named "Geiffel" who has done it a few times. Would love to hear the stories. Thinking way ahead for NEXT summer. This summer is already packed.

though I wonder if drafting the tour wouldn't be just as nice - follow the route but avoid at least some of the craziness - see some of it to be sure but not as the main focus of the trip.

Our son and daughter in law did it year before last on a tour. They bicycled also. The craziness before the tour arrives at a stage is part of the fun I would think.

good point! Kinda like going to Mardi Gras a few days late, huh?

but it would still be nice to have a brief respite I think. I've been to two D-Day celebrations, the 55th and the 60th - the 55th we were almost a week early and as such we had a lot to ourselves. things were set up but not as many people. a year ago (today!) I was there in all its glory - a completely different experience.

would like to hear about the cycling - how neat! how tough was it to rent bikes? did they follow, or way way out in front?

We were in Paris for the last day of the Tour in 2003. It was a wonderful experience and one I will never forget. Seeing Lance Armstrong riding the victory lap was unbelievable. My daughter who was 12 at the time still talks about it. The air is just electric and everyone was so happy. It was very crowded but nobody seemed to care. I would love to follow the route especially if it was half as exciting as the finish!

If the question about biking was to me, son took his own bike. Daughter in law used bikes provided by the tour. They met various stages, saw the stage and then bicycled in the area. Ended with 3 days in Paris for the final.

I think if you google for tours for the Tour you will find all levels. This was a Butterfield and Robinson tour.